Can I break a certificate before maturity, and could I get back less than I put in?

Many certificates cannot be broken in the first 6 months after purchase, and the break table in the Central Bank's template starts at 6 months. After that, breaking is usually allowed, but with a penalty.

The usual penalty works backwards: the bank recalculates the return for the period held at a lower rate and claws back the difference in the return already paid. That is why you can get back less than the amount you placed.

A hypothetical example per 100 EGP: a certificate at 20% a year with monthly payout, broken after 8 months, with a table that prices that period at 14%. About 13.33 was paid, about 9.33 was due, so the difference of 4 EGP is deducted and you get back 96 of the 100.

Penalties differ by bank and by certificate. Read the key-facts statement: when breaking is first allowed, the penalty table by months held and the worked example, and ask the bank for the exact figure in your case. If breaking is blocked or costly, ask about a loan against the certificate.